The Last Supper

"The Last Supper" is the climactic volume of the Paul Christopher Series. As an espionage novel, it's startling -- the betrayal of the CIA's master spy by the agency's most notorious agent, leading to ten years in a Chinese prison, the death of Chrisopher's lover, and the transformation of his life and his agency. But it's also a book about families, the Hubbards and the Christophers, two New England families whose American roots go back to the 18th century -- representatives of a very different time in American life, and in its government, when a resume and a degree meant much less than whether you knew someone could be depended upon. Trust mattered. Personal confidentiality was vital. People knew each other as much by blood as by credentials -- the world of FDR, Wild Bill Donovan, a world that vanishes as the Christopher series progresses. "Last Supper" is a long read. It has scene development more familiar to readers of Faulkner and James than to those of Len Deighton. Characters develop; conversations over a lusciously described meal are complex, engaged with issues and tactics on the one hand, and ancient friendships and their betrayal on the other. If Le Carre had not been so bitter about the United States, he might have written novels like this one, where the spies fumble and fail as much as they do in the English writer's stories, but to a purpose the author is not embarrassed to have participated in himself as a CIA agent for almost twenty years. McCarry's best spy novel is "The Secret Lovers," but his best book is this one, available on Kindle now, and in a new edition. Check it out.

"The Last Supper" by Charles McCarry is excellent. It spans approximately 60 years (though the author is mystifyingly vague about exact years -- instead we're treated to "eras.") from before WWII in cheery/scary 1930s Germany to the God-awful times of McCarthyism in the US, the Cold War, The Vietnam War, and various aftermaths.The key to it all is the extraordinary (and slightly weird) Christopher family, whose names and relationships I was constantly getting confused by. But they are spies extraordinaire. In my mind, though, the main character in "The Last Supper" is Barney Wolkoweiz, whose personality, grossness and brilliance dominate the book of clever and stupid characters, all of whom are delicately drawn and are oh-so-different one from the other. In a sense, the story has heavy psychological overtones and themes. Often the Chrisophers are portrayed as observers, virtually silent, but lethally-smart quiet.Paul Christopher, the exceedingly taciturn (actual) main character on whose back the story resides, is brilliant, observant and fearless. He also seems able to move from one love "relationship" to another with alacrity. The prison scenes in China were among the very best sections of the book.Caution to readers. Pay close attention to ALL the characters, no matter how few pages are devoted to them and all their activities. It all matters and eventually comes round in the end to make sense, as Paul finally solves the mystery of who spies on whom and why. In that sense the story often reads more like a mystery story than a spy novel.All-in-all the tale is quite fine, engrossing, mysterious, hideous (at times) and suitably action-bloody. Dialgue is excellent, and the mid-1900s history lesson alone is worth reading. For those of us old enough to have experienced most of this time span, it was a nice blast from the past.I long suspected who the mole in the CIA really was, but the end solution wa creative and still suspenseful.A great read; a 4.6, so rounded up to a 5.

This is the only book by this author that I have read. I was intrigued by reviews which compared Charles McCarry favorably to John LeCarre, Philip Kerr, and Alan Furst.I see no basis for putting McCarry in such company. This story has a predictable story line populated by forgettable characters. Perhaps "The Last Supper" is not a good example of McCarry's best writing, but I have no interest in finding out for certain by reading any more.

Charles McCarry continues his saga of CIA operative, Paul Christopher, with this fine novel that further develops characters and plotlines begun in his earlier work, Tears of Autumn. Christopher returns to Viet Nam in an attempt to intercede and prevent the forces that may bring harm to his beloved Molly in reaction to the discoveries Christopher made regarding the Kennedy assassination in Tears of Autumn. Tragedy follows and Christopher ends up in a Chinese prison.The novel expands the history of Christopher's extraordinary parents in Nazi Germany, and also gives the terrific back-story of Barney Wolkowicz, the wild and wooly Ukrainian-born blue-collar-agent-in-an-Ivy-League-world, the least pretentious and most effective anti-Soviet CIA operative, and devoted protege to Paul's father, Hubbard Christopher.In fact, this is a character-heavy novel, with a great deal of examination and understanding of the various types and classes of people drawn into Cold War espionage.There is much of death and loss and ultimate betrayal. The search for Moles within the Outfit and the surprising revelations that come with their discovery. There is the lingering memory of lost loved ones and McCarry does very nicely in limning the emotions of familial love and attachment, as well as adult physical and emotional love.The descriptions of WWII Burmese jungle fighting, of the tense fear of Nazi ruled Germany, the harsh deprivations of Chinese prison, the privileged landscape of Yalie New England and DC, and the intrigue of Cold War Berlin are brought to life with care and detail.Not a fast-paced thriller, although abundant enough with exotic locale and adventure, McCarry's interest lies in the people doing this work, and the emotional and psychic price paid in entering the Hall of Mirrors that is espionage. Fine work. Worthwhile. 4-1/2 Stars.